Felipe Anderson: Arnautovic or Feghouli?

As the Summer transfer period trundles along in the background of the World cup, the biggest target in West Ham's sight is Lazio's Brazilian talent, Felipe Anderson.

Lazio and West ham are locked in a game of wits regarding a transfer fee with personal terms of 80k per week agreed with Anderson himself. Lazio are holding out for an alleged E40k while the Hammers have offered 30k.

However, a deal seems likely as Anderson is mainly employed in a substitute role by Lazio and although a real attacking force when on form, he is prone to inconsistency. Therein lies the principal factor that has limited his game time at Lazio and that explains his absence from what looks a pretty modest Brazilian World Cup squad.

40 million for a player who doesnt make the World Cup and more often than not fails to make the starting XI at a club that finished a modest 5th in Serie A last season? You can see why the Davids sometimes take a cautious approach to the transfer market where its easy to waste hard earned resources!

That said, Anderson is now 25 years old and ready to push on. His ability in terms of skill is not in doubt as he has earned a host of accolades as the best dribbler in Serie A (!) And has in impressive assist and goalscoring record in what is a defensive league. His speed, ball control and positional versatility make him an ideal player to fit into the attacking berth created by Manny Lanzini's injury, while he is equally capable as a winger.

So, Arnautovic or Feghouli? The Lazio coaching team have commented on how Anderson is a confidence player who needs game time. With Mario gone and Lanzini out of action, it looks like the Brazilian may get a decent opportunity to strut his stuff at West ham.

If the clubs can agree a fee it looks like a good deal for all concerned!

Tantalising Pre-season Schedule awaits in July

With all eyes fixed upon goings on at the World Cup, its hard to think that the Premiership kick off is just seven weeks away! Between now and August 11th there will be much excitement in Russia but also the prospect of seeing Pellegrini's side take shape in a series of Pre-season friendlies. 

Already with some top signings already in the bag in Ryan Fredericks, Issa Diop and Lukasz Fabianski, and with a host of tantalising rumours about additional signings, this years preseason could be the most interesting since the Curbishley-Icelandic era! Add to that the desire to see how we line out tactically under Pellegrini, many fans will want to take an early look at the latest iteration.

The Pre-season training starts in earnest with an 11 day trip to Austria during which the club have so far confirmed a single fixture against FC Winterthur, (Venue unconfirmed) on Sunday 8 July at 3pm (CEST). Other Austrian games seem likely but are not yet confirmed.

The Hammers first game back in the UK will be against Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park on Saturday 14 July at 3pm. 

A week later they travel up to Deepdale to face Preston North End on Saturday 21 July at 3pm giving Jordan Hugill a chance to play against his old club while ex-Hammer Sean Maguire will have the chance to remind us again of the talent that we let go.

Four days later we take on Aston Villa at Walsall's  Bescot Stadium on Wednesday 25 July at 7.45pm. Who knows what Robert Snodgrass' circumstances will be by then!

Three days later the Hammers trip up to Portman road to take on Ipswich Town on Saturday 28 July at 3pm

One suspects that there are likely to be further games between then and the 11th August when the Premiership kicks off against Liverpool at Anfield. 

Lanzini Injury has a regrettable upside

The football world has been out in sympathy with West Ham's ace midfielder manuel Lanzini after his heart breaking injury sustained in training prior to a World Cup that many had predicted he would be a major success at. Unfortunately, the worst fears have been realised as it has emerged that he has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and thus faces 6-9 months on the sidelines. Despite the significant advances in surgical technique of recent years, many ACS injuries are career changing but with the very best of care and a careful unhurried rehabilitation journey, Manu will be back to his best for the second half of next season's campaign. Currently recouperating in Barcelona where the surgery was done, Lanzini is reported as upbeat.



For West Ham the injury is an obvious setback but many had feared that the club would be unable to hold on to their little Argentinian after the World Cup with a host of clubs apparently interested. Having developed such a potent relationship with Marko Arnautovic, fans really want to see the pair spearhead Pellegrini's side next year. perhaps Lanzini's injury will be a factor in that being possible, but the momentum behind a possible Arnautovic exit seems to be gathering pace. Fortunately, Austria did not make the finals and as such Arnie will be out of the shop window and one might expect that attentions will be diverted elsewhere once the action really gets going over the coming weeks.  

Either way, we wish Manu a full recovery! 

COYI!!!


 

Still Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

So here we are, at the business end of the season and in a relegation battle that could very easily end in tears. On the face of it we look unlikely to go down and the bookies have us at 14-1 against taking a drop. However, does anybody think its impossible that we might lose all three remaining games? If so, you would have to worry that Southampton, who have a much better goal difference, might win one of their remaining games and suddenly we would have the biggest (not best!) stadium in the championship. Everybody knows that you need to win 10 games to be sure to stay up and we currently have managed a mere 8 victories. A stat that says it all really about a season that has been truly disappointing.

As a consequence, today's visit to Leicester really is a massive game for us. Thankfully, the Foxes home form has been patchy and with their season essentially over they may not be 100% focused on today's clash. Rumour has it that they are struggling with injuries and may field a weakened side. All good then, but what about us? Many fans have started getting itchy with one penning an open letter to David Moyes pleading for an attacking strategy today. The colder eye would feel this is unlikely to be Mr Moyes' approach as Leicester are a side that is set up to counter attack. Lest we forget, Vardy and Mahrez are still at the club, so perhaps a patient approach seems more prudent.

All of which raises the question - can we defend well enough to rely on keeping it tight? sadly not - we are officially the leakiest defence in the league (a whopping 67 goals so far!), so perhaps we should go for an open game? Whatever else, we definitely need to be aggressive and drive the intensity of the game to test Leicester's desire. On a negative note, you'd have to say that this is the type of game that we have been losing all season, but we are due a bit of good fortune against the Foxes after their dodgy late penalty courtesy of referee Moss scuppered our top six aspirations this time two seasons ago. Back then we mistakenly thought we were about to make the great leap forwards!

With Man U and an in form Allardyce-led Everton waiting, we really need something from this game. My head says you'd be happy with a point but that depends on Swansea and Southampton's results. A bad day at the office could see us in massive trouble this evening and slash those relegation odds.

It's definitely not boring! 


 

The Wit and Wisdom of Margaret Thatcher?

After yesterday's results (especially Southampton's win) it is pretty clear that West Ham need another result before the season's end if they are to be sure of Premiership football next year. With recently crowned champions Manchester City visiting the Olympic Stadium today it would be nice to think that they might be easing off and thinking about the Summer and the World Cup, but alas that's not likely under Pep Guardiola's leadership in a squad where the competition for starting places is cut throat. In trying to compose a list of reasons why we might get a result today I was plagued by the recurring image of that comedy vinyl classic 'The wit and wisdom of Margaret Thatcher' which is comprised of two completely silent sides! Hmmm.


It's really hard to see how an injury ravaged Hammers side can even get a point with the bookies offering odds of 10-1 against a Hammers win, with the draw at 5-1. Depressing or what? This really is a day for the fans to get behind the team and try to spur them on. With the likes of Kevin De Bruyne able to score from distance, David de Silva's capacity to prise open a gap in the tightest of spaces and Raheem Sterling's ability to con referees into giving him a penalty every time he runs straight at defenders, there is little point in sitting back. Equally, if we push up City will thrive in the wide open spaces of our stadium.

Still, with Manny Lanzini possibly on from the start, Arnie up front with Andy Carroll available to arrive at some point, maybe if we keep it tight we can snatch something. The 4-1 score at Arsenal last week definitely did not reflect our efforts where we deserved a point and looked all set to take one with ten minutes to play. Moreover, City have lost 3 of their last 5 matches, albeit to Liverpool (twice) and Manchester United. No doubt David Moyes will have studied how Liverpool managed their victories but, Arnautovic aside, we lack the counterattacking power of the Reds current crop.  

If not today, next week away to Leicester looks like a promising opportunity to get some points as they fell apart against Palace yesterday and look disinterested. Man United is always a fun fixture and perhaps the ideal one to finally seal survival, especially as a final day visit from an improved Everton looks like the perfect opportunity for Big Sam to remind his former bosses that Premiership survival should always be the primary aim for all clubs outside of the top six. You'd have to think that he might enjoy making us sweat!

Rory Nostradamus says that at 5-1 the draw is a decent punt. Anybody for 1-1?




 

A Perfect Time to Storm the Bastille

As Arsenal begin the end of the Wenger era the air is stagnant with nostalgia as the Gooners reminisce on the glory days of the so-called 'Invincibles'. In truth, the current Arsenal side has nothing like the capacity of Henry-Viera-Pires to instill a sense of dread into any would be opposition.

However, that said, West ham fans will be glad to move on from Wenger's era during which we have enjoyed very little success against our neighbours from North London. Perhaps that's why a steely Moyes-led Hammers side are 11-2 against for a win even though Arsenal have little to play for while the Hammers are desperate for the points that would ensure our Premiership safety.

Moyes has fielded an unchanged starting XI but both Lanzini and Carroll can be expected to appear before the end. Its uplifting to witness the growth of Declan Rice, who starts again, and along with Arnie has lit up an otherwise difficult season. Mr Rice really looks like a future captain of the Hammers a la Bonzo style.

I am in Paris and will miss the second half. It's currently 0-0 and with a strong bench maybe, just maybe, we can grab something and start a new era of results against the Gooners?

Threadbare Hammers Look to Pull off Double

David Moyes will be hoping to build on the Hammers first win under his reign when they overcame Chelsea at the OS in December. However, he was downbeat at the prematch briefing, perhaps understandably given the absence of so many key players. West ham,s injury problems are emphasised by the bench which includes unfamiliar names like Pask and Diangana. Given other results this weekend, a point would be a great result but Chelsea will be looking to bounce back after their 3-1 loss to Spurs last week. 

The bookies are clear in their position with Chelsea at 3/10 on whilst Moyes' men are 12/1 against for the win. 

With the sudden loss of club icon Ray Butch Wilkins earlier in the week, passions will be high at Stamford bridge. 

WEST HAM STARTING XI:

Hart, Cresswell, Rice, Ogbonna, Zabaleta, Kouyate, Noble, Masuaku, Fernandes, Joao Mario, Arnautovic.

Subs: Adrian, Hugill, Hernandez, Evra, Cullen, Pask, Diangana.